Robert Lambert will be hoping his knowledge of the Saddlebow Road shale can prove the difference when he begins his bid to win the World Under-21 final.

The King's Lynn Stars rider, 18, will be the home hero when the first of the three-round series is held at the Norfolk track tonight. Foulsham-based Lambert is one of three permanent wildcards in the 16-man battle for glory after falling just short in the qualification process. And the Stars' favourite son is determined to prove why he was handed a lifeline come tapes up at Lynn.

Lambert said: 'It's great to be on my home track at King's Lynn in the first round, it's somewhere I know well so I hope I can make the most of it.

'It's going to be tough and anything can happen on the day, but I'd like to think I can use my knowledge around there to have a good meeting and get off to a good start.

'Hopefully the crowd can give me plenty of support and I can make the most of it by putting in a good performance.'

Full Great Britain international Lambert will be joined by fellow countrymen Adam Ellis, Josh Bates, who pipped the Lynn rider to the British Under-21 title earlier this term, and meeting wildcard Zach Wajtknecht.